3 ms·

In Germany, being a high-performer also is rather a stigma... A top engineer from a top university will barely make more net income than an assembly line worke

In Germany, being a high-performer also is rather a stigma... A top engineer from a top university will barely make more net income than an assembly line worker at the same automotive company in Germany (it’s bit of an exaggeration but not much). Germany has a very strong “support those that do not perform and make everybody believe that people create equal value”-mentality. Unless you join a company that has incentive systems in place that reward high-performers (e.g., american companies tend to favor that with their subsidiaries) there is indeed a “regression to mediocracy”. Considering that the average household-income is surprisingly low in Germany (much lower than Austria or Switzerland) this might explain the high productivity. I am sorry if I sound sarcastic or a bit cynical - but it took me well to my 30s to understand that a large portion of productivity stems from a small fraction of high performing individuals; and it was even harder to overcome the feeling of guilt and shame to actually get compensated for that. A 10x software engineer making 150k p.a.: outrageous, tax the rich! A soccer player making 50 mio: well, he IS the best, right?

cam_l 7y ago
I would like to see an engineer produce much of any value without a line worker.. The thing about soccer players has got little to nothing to do with their playing abilities. It has more to do with them having the leverage to capture a greater portion of advertising revenue. They are visible, individual, rare and hence difficult to replace. The idea that you get (or should get) compensated for your performance is laubable, but sadly not how the world works. I don't think anyone actually gets paid according to their input, ability or results. Their ability to get compensated is only very tangentially related to their performance (through how well they leverage the perception of their performance, or their rarity, or distinction from other potential workers).
- looping__lui 6y ago
  People get compensated for the degree of influence they exert over their employer / the potential value they bring to the table. That is the same for soccer player, only: they are more talented and sought after than you or me. “What would engineers get done without assembly line workers” - well, for starters, let me give you a bit of an update how the world is now working for the young generation in Germany: - Your Dad or uncle works at Adi or BW and is a union member: great! There is a field in the application that specifically asks whether you have family members and to list them. Assembly line unions for traditional reasons exert an insane amount of power over the companies in Germany - that means: they just dictate that the salary of an assembly line worker is just insane; that no workforce reductions (automation anyone?) are made; guess who gets the apprenticeship position at 16/17 because of his outstanding grades, abilities and well, his Dad is a local union representative... 2000 applications, 50 spots, be SURE that every single one has a family member backing them. Has nothing to do with performance... Now, there isn’t exactly a similar union concept for engineers and those uni graduates probably take a greater deal of pride in finding a job than having their Dad harass HR. So the funny fact is: you are right that the reason to be compensated based on your performance is laudable but unrealistic - but the ONLY times I found this to be completely off limits was with those “family relationship union assembly line workers”.

cam_l 7y ago

I would like to see an engineer produce much of any value without a line worker.. The thing about soccer players has got little to nothing to do with their playing abilities. It has more to do with them having the leverage to capture a greater portion of advertising revenue. They are visible, individual, rare and hence difficult to replace. The idea that you get (or should get) compensated for your performance is laubable, but sadly not how the world works. I don't think anyone actually gets paid according to their input, ability or results. Their ability to get compensated is only very tangentially related to their performance (through how well they leverage the perception of their performance, or their rarity, or distinction from other potential workers).

looping__lui 6y ago
People get compensated for the degree of influence they exert over their employer / the potential value they bring to the table. That is the same for soccer player, only: they are more talented and sought after than you or me. “What would engineers get done without assembly line workers” - well, for starters, let me give you a bit of an update how the world is now working for the young generation in Germany: - Your Dad or uncle works at Adi or BW and is a union member: great! There is a field in the application that specifically asks whether you have family members and to list them. Assembly line unions for traditional reasons exert an insane amount of power over the companies in Germany - that means: they just dictate that the salary of an assembly line worker is just insane; that no workforce reductions (automation anyone?) are made; guess who gets the apprenticeship position at 16/17 because of his outstanding grades, abilities and well, his Dad is a local union representative... 2000 applications, 50 spots, be SURE that every single one has a family member backing them. Has nothing to do with performance... Now, there isn’t exactly a similar union concept for engineers and those uni graduates probably take a greater deal of pride in finding a job than having their Dad harass HR. So the funny fact is: you are right that the reason to be compensated based on your performance is laudable but unrealistic - but the ONLY times I found this to be completely off limits was with those “family relationship union assembly line workers”.